Noel

Hi Kevin. It takes an 8 pin decoder. If I get time later I will put a Lenz silver+ decoder in it for side by side comparison with a 141/Lenz combo. Don't know if the BMEF will make a difference but I'm hoping the higher constant track voltage will help slow her down more over points. Noel

Its a fair point though. The NEM pockets are NOT at standard heights and vary greatly across the range of Irish model locos and coaches. The Mk2d's are a total pig to convert to kadee's. The whole point of NEM coupling pockets was to make the process easy, and accurate - it is NOT.

I've purchased from all of those listed below and found them reliable (a few are internet only). Marks and The Model Shop Portlaoise seem to carry the greatest variety of stock and modelling accessories, tools, paints, etc. Marks still seem to have part of their sales on for MM locos. http://www.marksmodels.com http://www.themodelshop.ie http://www.martysmodels.com http://idmodels.ie http://rbmodels.ie http://www.chrisdyerfairs.co.uk/index.php?p=1_5_Direct-Sales Not retail shops but suppliers of specialist Irish model railway items, kits and rolling stock: http://irishrailwaymodels.com http://www.studio-scale-models.com http://silverfoxmodels.co.uk http://www.irishfreightmodels.com http://www.provincialwagons.com DCC decoders http://www.kieskemper-shop.de https://www.dccsupplies.com

Video of Athearn SW1500 model on DC. It's not as ultra smooth a runner as MM/Bachmann 141/181, but not bad either. Below was tested on DC. Will repost a clip when I get around to popping a decoder in which may improve the smoothness due higher track voltage (i.e. for pickup continuity and motor pulsing). Athearn SW1500 Black'n'Tan

This Black'n'Tan Athearn SW1500 runs very smoothly, does low speed crawl, and runs reasonably smoothly over Peco insulfrog point work. I'd be very happy with it under a 121 or even a C class. I will post a video of it running slowly over pointwork when I get a chance. I presume the model I have is one of the later versions because it doesn't seem to have any of the rough running attributes of older Athearn's.

Yes I too would find it uncomfortable to discard an MM141/181 body shell, but they still are relatively easy to come by and cost the same or less than a decent donor chassis with equivalent drive capabilities. Destroy might be too strong a word, as one would be creating something new and useful out of it, and the bogie sides would be fine scale compared to coarse white metal sides lacking finese.

LOL - the chocolate fountain description is hilarious. PS: A recent model Athearn SW1500 chassis would probably cost more than an MM141 or 181 with current $USD exchange rates.

Would be possible to use an MM 141/181 model as a donor and shorten the chassis slightly? Then you get a quality Bachmann runner with scale bogies.

Agree, relatively short rail sectors on our small island geographically cannot compete with motorways for speed, so to differentiate they need sell 'comfort' and point to point connectivity. The ability to 'chill out' on the train in comfort, peace and quiet with grub at least as good as motorway services might compete better with roads. This the 22k's fail to do. The fibreglass seats are hideous to sit on for more than one hour. Give me an intercity bus seat any day. Sadly the dots are not joined like other european networks as it takes too much time and inconvenience to get to Heuston. Pity they don't have a major intercity station where the M50 intersects the main line with a vast car park system.

They do on many sections of the Dublin-Cork line

Absolutely sublime. Hyper yummy! Photo realism eat your heart out. This is superb on all levels of design, craftsmanship, artistry, authenticity, modelling, engineering, landscaping and pure 100% "atmosphere". I felt like I was in Cork looking out a window. Just catching up on here as was tied up with family festivities. Love the scenery, buildings, track work, landscaping - everything. Hope you have much enjoyment operating this layout par excellence.

Sounds a good idea JB. For hardcopy, it's now very inexpensive as you just upload book content to a web site such as "Blurb" and then folks can buy inexpensive copies of it direct from there. Alternative is a PDF, you just create a word document, and thne "Save As PDF" format file which can be uploaded to this or other web sites. PS: But I'm not standing on my head to read it when published! Kidd'n

Wishing all on here and your families and really special and peaceful Christmas. It has been great getting to know you folk this past year and especially meeting you at various events. Noel & Family This caption caught my eye yesterday when I spotted it in a shopping mall. "Christmas is a tonic for our souls. It moves us to think of others rather than of ourselves. It directs our thoughts to giving." Bertie Charles Forbes 1880-1954 (founder of Forbes magazine) "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us”). Matthew 1:23

Who built these stunning models? They look as good as high quality injection moulded plastic models, but I understand they were plasticard? Apologies for posting to old thread but only just spotted these. The finesse of the grills are amazing.

That's fascinating. Thanks for posting. All the double headers must have been to negate the problems a potential loco breakdown might have caused to the 'stack and rack' operation. I wonder what CIE train & bus logistics were like in the major Dublin stations for 1979 papal visit. Presume the sidings at the old Phoenix park races course must have come into play and Heuston & Inchacore must have been a maze of coaching stock.

Good idea. NCE cabs have this feature (i.e. accelerated time clock). I feel an idea for a smartphone app for simple layout operating schedules. No extra hardware needed.

Unfortunately couldn't make the Bray meet as we were on a train in Kerry!

Who will be the first on this forum to travel on it?

Apologies Des, I misunderstood about the lights when I saw them in photo HorseTan's post without reading the text which explained http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/5080-Sulzer-Kit?p=81207&viewfull=1#post81207 Anyway sign me up for one when they are ready. Will the donor chassis you are planning have a PCB which can be used to connect to a decoder (wired, 8 or 21 pin), and optionally an additional lighting kit? Thanks Noel

No, 'beam me up scotty' comes to mind. From seeing this sort of difference of opinion or difference of interpretation on other forums over the years, folks that had met face to face seemed to get on better and were able to discuss opposing opinions without upsetting each other. It is a fact that normal decent folk behind keyboards on the internet can end up in a spat because there are no facial expressions, no eye contact, and no tone of voice, just text which without the other queues can lead to unnecessary heat. Two chaps I knew years ago were on the steps of a court house 8 years ago after an alleged liable during an internet spat, they met face to face, talked it out, realised they had both misunderstood the others intentions, over reacted and escalated what had started as a minor issue. Had they met 'face2face' in a pub it would never have happened. Ironically they ended up the best of mates. Strange but true. Sorry for going off piste (topic), but wish all could calm down. Nobody has died, it a model railway forum, not how to solve the worlds serious problems, and most definitely not the UN.

Bizarrely I've never had a desire to have a model Sulzer, but this thread may well convert me. The emerging kit looks great and very complete with detailing, lights and now a possible chassis that should live up to the quality of the models appearance.

Guys its Christmas, can we all smile, and just realise we are really the same just wonderfully different. Keyboards can disguise the generosity of spirit that really resides inside human hearts. Wishing everybody on here a happy and peaceful Christmas. As "Ted" might say, railway modellers, "a great bunch of lads"

Apologies I made no mention of the products, just the 'archaic' website.

I don't have an exhibition layout and exhibiting doesn't interest me in the slightest. I only run models trains for fun and enjoyment but do like them to operate and look like the real thing underway. Personally I found having one or two trains on long loops that appear and disappear at different sections of the layout whilst carrying out prototypical shunting and in-station train operations quite enjoyable and seems to go down well with younger family members when they visit. There is always something moving or about to move. I have operated time lapsed time tables for goods traffic and pax trains. Whilst dropping wagons off at a through stations sidings it is nice to see other traffic passing through in the back ground at scale speeds. What I cannot abide is trains accelerating at >1g forces direct to start speeds of 25mph or staggering to that jerking and pulling stock, or worse decelerating at speeds that would cause blood shot eyes in the passengers.

And his web site is straight out of 1998, but its brass so bound to be from the last century.